Colorado River Fishing Report: Stripers, Trout, and Catfish Action - October 20, 2025

Good morning, anglers—Artificial Lure here with your Colorado River, Las Vegas fishing report, Monday, October 20, 2025. Sunrise today painted the sky at 6:47 AM, and sunset’s forecasted for 6:05 PM. Local weather is cool and clear, with temps steady at 62°F early, climbing to the mid-70s by early afternoon. Winds are calm at 4-6 mph—ideal for casting and even better for boat drift. No rain predicted, and the air’s got just enough snap to keep you comfortable out on the water. Now, regarding tidal activity: down here near Las Vegas, tides are minimal, but flows out of Hoover Dam play a role. Bureau of Reclamation shows moderate outflows for today, so expect a gentle current, especially mid-morning and again after sunset. Fish activity usually increases about an hour after the release—prime time’s looking like 8:00–11:30 AM and 4:30–6:30 PM. Onto what’s biting: Striped bass remain the most dependable quarry. Several anglers this past week reported solid numbers—anything from schoolie-sized 1–3 lb fish to several stripers over 8 lbs landed near Willow Beach and Cottonwood Cove. Catfish catches were decent below Willow Beach at night, particularly channel and a few blue cats right up around 5 lbs. Rainbow trout action is rolling, especially since fresh stocks were dropped last Wednesday; most rainbows are pan-sized (10–14”), but the occasional hawg in the 18” range was bagged early mornings. Best baits and lures—no surprise, cut anchovies topped the chart: stripers just can’t resist them along the deeper pools and eddy lines. For lure tossers, soft-plastic swim shads in chrome and blue colors are killer; they tend to mimic shad, a striper staple. Topwater poppers at dawn and dusk got explosive results for patient casters. If you like spin fishing, try chartreuse jigs for trout—local anglers swear by a slow retrieve with a twitch. Night owls going after catfish should use stinkbaits or chunked chicken liver, fished deep and slow. Now, hot spots: Willow Beach is leading the pack this week for striper and trout—launch before sunrise, and push up towards the marina rock piles. Cottonwood Cove’s producing steady action for bass just off the submerged weed beds along the north bank. Downstream around Laughlin, the backwater sloughs are yielding channel cats in the evenings. If you want a bite at dawn, the stretch between Willow Beach and mile marker 52 always seems to hold feeding trout right after a stock. Boat and bank access is excellent, with most parking lots open and clear. Water temps are hovering around 67°F, so fish metabolism is high and bites likely. Local tackle shops are reporting strong sales for Kastmasters and medium-diving crankbaits, so grab a couple if you need fresh gear. In summary: mild weather, manageable currents, fisher-friendly sunrise, and plenty of action. Striped bass and rainbows dominating the day. Anchor near Willow Beach with cut anchovy or toss swim shads. Don’t overlook dusk, especially for topwater excitement. Br This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI.